The striking defeat of the pagans in
the battle of Badr was reinforcing the sense of retaliation in them. The
blockade of the trade rout of the people of Mecca, which stretched from Media
and Iraq, had seriously frustrated them. Therefore they saw it prudent to stand
against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) with an arranged military made up of
featuring powerful warriors from most Arab tribes. After an enormous effort
they gathered an army of 4000 soldiers for the battle.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) after
being informed, in a great gathering that hosted many commanders and brave
soldiers, consulted about the best way for defense. Most of them suggested
exiting the city. Therefore the Prophet of God (PBUH&HP) accepted the view
of the majority, and preferred exiting from the city to resorting to the city
fortress and the individual face to face battle.

Then he came to his house, wore an
armor, hanged his sword and took a shield, and placed a bow and arrow on his
shoulder, and took his spear, then exited his house. He performed the Friday
Salat, and with an army of more than a thousand left Medina for Ohod.

The army of Muslims chose a point in
front of a natural obstacle i.e. the Ohod Mountain. In the middle of the
mountain there was a gap that gave the enemy the possibility of an offensive
strike provided they could make a detour around the mountain and attack the
Muslims from the behind.

The Great Prophet (PBUH&HP)
positioned two groups of archers as a remedy for this threat, and told their
commander: “use your arrows to keep the enemy away, and don’t let them to
attack us unexpectedly by entering the battle field from the behind. Whether we
win or we lose, don’t leave this spot empty.”

The battle started, and the Muslims
were forcing the pagans to retreat. When the enemy left their weaponry on the
ground to save their lives most of the Muslims did not pursue them, and took
their weapons on the ground to gather trophies, and thought that the defeat is
done.

In this instant the guards of the gap
saw the opportunity to gather trophies, and thought to themselves that their
stay near the gap is no more necessary and they should gather trophies. Their
commander said: “the Prophet of God has ordered us to stay here whether we win
or lose.”

But most of them didn’t obey the order
and almost 40 of them left their position, and only 10 remained.

At this moment, Khalid ibn Walid used
the opportunity and led his forces to the behind of the forces of Islam, and by
making a detour attacked the Muslims. The resistance of the few numbers of
Muslim soldiers at the gap was not enough, and the result was disastrous unexpected
attack to the army of Muslims.

Khalid, after conquering the strategic
spot invited the escaping pagans to fight back, and with shouts and screams
blew the spirit of resistance in them.

An unprecedented anarchy and chaos was
dominating the army of Islam, and there were many casualties. Among the
casualties was Hamzah (PBUH), the noble uncle of the Prophet (PBUH&HP) whom
was unjustly martyred by the spear of Wahshi who was hiding behind a stone.

In these difficult moments, Leithi,
the brave commander of the pagans, attacked the pennant bearer of Islam army
“Mos’ab ibn Umair” and martyred him. He thought that he had killed Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&HP), so he shouted: “O people! Muhammad (PBUH&HP) is
killed.”

This false news spread among the
Muslims and harmed their spiritual strength; many of the fighters from both the
Ansar (helpers) and the Muhajirin (Immigrants), Omar ibn Khattab being among
them, stopped fighting and escaped to the mountain, and only a few (less than
10 people) kept fighting.(1)

Thus the Great Prophet (PBUH&HP)
was attacked from all sides by the soldiers of enemy. When a group attacked
him, Ali (PBUH), with the order of the Prophet (PBUH&HP) attacked them, and
with killing some of them forced them to disperse. This pattern was repeated
for a couple of times. In reaction to this bravery, Gabriel descended and
praised the bravery of Ali (PBUH): “this is the apex of self-sacrifice that
this commander is demonstrating.” The Prophet of God confirmed the praise of
the revelation angel and said: “I am from Ali, and Ali is from me.” Then a
voice was heard from the skies: “Bravery is all in Ali, and there is no sword
except that of his.”(2)

Finally the Great Prophet reached to
the edge of the valley. The Muslims who were around delighted as they found him
alive and they felt ashamed. Amir al-Mu’minin (PBUH) filled his shield with
water, and the Prophet of God washed his face and head, and said: “the anger of
God exceeded at the people who bloodied the face of their prophet.”

With the analysis of the historical
facts, it becomes evident that we cannot recognize all the Muslims who
accompanied the Prophet as just and pious because those who left their position
or ascended the mountain in the decisive moments and disregarded the call of
the Prophet were all the the companions of the Prophet (PBUH&HP).

Yes, the defeat in this battle was
rooted in the fact that the aim and purpose of most Muslims was changed.
Looking at the trophies of the Quraish after their escape took away the purity
and sincerity from their hearts, and they forgot the order of the Prophet of
God (PBUH&HP), and became greedy.

(The above is a
selection taken from,” The Master of Prophets (PBUH&HP)”, by Ayatullah
Ja’far Subhani (with summarization))

The Roshd Website commemorates the
15th of Shawwal, the anniversary of Battle of Ohod, battle of faith and
disbelieve and the exam of hypocrisy and sincerity.